Two businessmen are sentenced

A court in Lhoka county in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) has sentenced two Tibetan businessmen to varying prison term according to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights.

Sonam Bhagdro received 15 years and Tashi Topgyal 5 years imprisonment .

They were arrested in August 2009 on suspicion of their involvement in “political activities”.

Sonam Bhagdro from Tsona County joined the Communist Party soon after completing his schooling. He was a well -respected member of his community due to his contribution to the education and medical expenses of children. He was given the ‘Exemplary Citizen of the County’ award.

30-year-old Tashi Topgyal was also born Tsona County.

The charges against the two men are unknown.

There has been an increase in the sentencing of Tibetans who have previously been seen as exemplary citizens by the state including environmentalist Karma Samdrup. The last high profile sentencing of a prominent Tibetan was Dorje Tashi, the owner of the famous Yak Hotel in Lhasa. His sentence is the latest in a series of convictions in Tibet of high-profile Tibetans who are former favourites of the Chinese administration.